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A pillar of our economic development strategy is that, “We will win on today’s regional strengths in focused economic clusters. Explore in detail the four sectors that we believe will shape our region’s future.

“The Banker” … from Central Park West to Washington Avenue

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We’ve condensed a detailed three-year plan into a single paragraph we call our Strategy Statement. It’s all about priorities and direction.

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Inner City Capital Connections Program has come to St. Louis. To date, this program has helped 837 different businesses raise over $1.32 billion in capital and create over 11,000 jobs in the inner city. Read more about the program on our blog.

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We believe nothing is more important in St. Louis than achieving Top 10 status in college attainment among the nation's largest metros. Visit www.topteneducation.org to follow our progress.

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St. Louis is home to 16 Fortune 1000 companies and some of the largest private firms in the U.S.; but don't overlook the ever increasing number of high growth small-to-medium enterprises and startups. Click here for a quick summary.

Former Gov. Matt Blunt Explains the Importance of the Automobile Industry at Sold-Out Logistics Forum

by
Jody Shelton
| Jan 30, 2017

On Tuesday, January 24, former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt joined a sold-out crowd of 250 guests at the Four Seasons Hotel to give a presentation about the future of automotive manufacturing. However, though Governor Blunt planned on giving his presentation in person, his role as president of the American Automotive Policy Council called him to an unexpected meeting at the White House and he had to teleconference in. Not missing a beat, Governor Blunt began his presentation on the present and future automotive manufacturing industry, and often referenced the St. Louis-area Wentzville plant as a familiar example for the audience.

The importance of the automotive industry to the United States’ economy cannot be understated. In fact, it is America’s largest manufacturing sector – both in terms of GDP and income. As we have lost low-skilled manufacturing here in the U.S., the importance of high-value manufacturing, like autos, continues to grow.

To get an idea of just how much impact the automobile supply chain has, consider this:

In 2015, FCA US, Ford, and General Motors exported more than 1 million American-made vehicles to more than 100 different foreign markets.

The U.S. automotive sector has nearly doubled exports in the last six years (2009-2015) from $74.09 billion in 2009 to $137.66 billion in 2015.

According the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 2013 each $1 billion in exports represents 5,600 American jobs. Based on that, the automotive export level last year supported 771,000 American jobs.

Thus, automakers support 2.44 million workers in the U.S., suppliers are responsible for 3.16 million more, and dealers are responsible for another 1.65 million. Grand total: the U.S. auto industry supports 7.25 million US jobs.

While Governor Blunt presented on the automotive industry gave specific examples of actions being taken to improve American manufacturing by members of the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC): FCA, Ford, and General Motors.

AAPC members produce more vehicles in the US than their competitors, have more plants in the U.S., use more US parts in their cars and trucks, and employ over 45,000 workers in the Detroit suburbs at their R&D facilities. It’s not surprising that AAPC members base 6 times more of our global workforce here – and employ 2 out of 3 US autoworkers.

When you think about just how much automakers matter to our economy – and those 7.25 million jobs they support in the US, please remember this. Three of the 15 global automakers competing in the US support 2 out of 3 of those auto jobs.

Governor Blunt made himself available for audience questions which ranged from what automotive manufacturers were doing to engage a young and diverse workforce to how Brexit would impact US trade.